Early Life

Clemen Falcón-Sheppard was born in Havana, Cuba to Lázaro and Carmen Falcón. At a very early age they encouraged her enjoyment for reading and desire to learn. Through their example she internalized the values of honesty, responsibility, and service. She has made this her life-long commitment, both to her family and to her profession.

Clemen was exposed to a wide variety of learning experiences, which have helped her become the committed educator she is today. She began her formal schooling in a government controlled setting on the island of Cuba. This experience taught her the values of individual rights and respect for humanity.

Youth

At the age of twelve, Clemen and her family sought refuge in the welcome embrace of the United States. At first, the move was overwhelming. Clemen had to assimilate into a new culture and master a different language. Ultimately, the experience proved to be fruitful and left an indelible mark on her young heart. Several of her teachers reached out to her and cared enough to make a difference in her life. This caused Clemen to resolve to always do everything possible to alleviate the burden of other individuals, particularly students in similar circumstances.

It was also at this time that a Seventh-day Adventist student in the school befriended Clemen and invited her to church. After numerous weeks of postponing the visit, Clemen finally accepted her friend’s invitation. This new found friendship would eventually lead Clemen and her sister Carmen to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Eventually the entire family would become baptized members.

The College Years

Clemen felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit at the end of her high school experience and determined that she needed a Christian education. This desire led her to the campus of Andrews University. During the course of her schooling, she had become fascinated with the learning of languages.

She was now fluent in both Spanish and English and had a good comprehension of French and Italian. This attraction to languages led Clemen to seek a double major in Spanish and French. She became an active participant in the Adventist Colleges Abroad program during her sophomore year where she attended the Séminaire Adventiste du Salève in Collonges-sous-Salève, France. This unforgettable experience laid the foundation of Clemen’s love for international travel. She returned to Andrews for her Junior and Senior years to complete her double major and educational certification requirements.

Early Career and Marriage

Upon graduation Clemen was asked to serve at the Lake Shore Adventist School in Chicago, Illinois. Her responsibilities included teaching fifth and sixth grades and serving as liaison between the English-speaking school officials and the Spanish-speaking parents. This experience solidified her desire to serve the Lord with her multi-lingual skills.

At the end of the school year, Clemen married her very best friend, Bradley Sheppard. As newlyweds, the couple accepted an invitation to teach at Broadview Academy. For five years the Sheppards enjoyed the beginning of life-long careers as educators. Clemen developed the foreign language program at Broadview, directed the library, and became a class sponsor. It was during these years that she began to incorporate educational tours to Mexico with classroom instruction. The Sheppards were permanently blessed with a souvenir from Illinois with the birth of their daughter, Amy. They left Broadview Academy having established wonderful friendships with colleagues and students.

The Michigan Years

New responsibilities brought the Sheppard family back to Berrien Springs. During the first five years, Clemen was privileged to teach at Brandywine High School in Niles, Michigan. She taught four levels of Spanish and sponsored the Spanish Honor Society and the Spanish Club. Here, once again, Clemen continued to introduce the sights and sounds of the Spanish-speaking world to a new group of pupils through tours to Mexico and Spain. She was also instrumental in re-introducing French into the school’s general curriculum. Clemen will always treasure her experience at Brandywine and she feels blessed to have had the opportunity to impact the lives of her pupils in this school.

Clemen was invited to join the faculty of Andrews Academy in 1992 where she was hired to strengthen the Spanish program and organize the process of computerizing the Instructional Media Center. From 1992 through 2005 Clemen enjoyed her responsibilities as Supervising Instructor, Director of the Media Center and Primary Sponsor of the National Honor Society. While at Andrews Academy, Clemen completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision at Andrews University. Clemen’s efforts to share in the process of educating youth have been recognized during these years. She is a recipient of the Golden Acorn Excellence in Teaching Award and has been nominated to Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers several times.

Clemen enjoys interacting with students during scheduled class periods and throughout the school day. She has strongly promoted respect for and appreciation of cultural diversity. She states, "My life has been enriched by the presence of each of my students. They have been, are, and will continue to be my joy and inspiration. As educators we are privileged to impact the present and touch the future through each of our students. God has given each one of His children a multitude of talents. I enjoy exploring the gift of language with my pupils. Upon their stay in my classroom, I trust my students catch a glimpse of Jesus and His everlasting love. Then, as they become successful participants of society, and exhibit the Lord’s compassion, kindness and grace, I am humbled by the privilege of having served in God’s work, and consider my contribution to education a success!"

Throughout our life together, Clemen is my beloved and my best friend!